City Council Workshop

10801 Town Square Dr. City of Blaine Blaine MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final City Council Workshop *While this is a public meeting where interested persons are welcome to attend, it is a work session for Council and staff to discuss issues before them. It is not for the purpose of receiving public input. Thursday, July 18, 2013 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A Meeting Number 13-35 NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:30 p.m. Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: Clark Arneson, City Manager; Tom Sweeney, City Attorney; Bryan Schafer, Planning Director; Bob Therres, Public Services Manager; Joe Huss, Finance Director; Ward Brown, Financial Analyst; Chris Olson, Safety Services Manager/Police Chief; Stefan Higgins, Assistant City Engineer; Dan Schluender, Assistant City Engineer; Roark Haver, Communications Technician; and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Councilmember Hovland arrived at 6:32 p.m. Present: 7 - Councilmember Clark, Councilmember Kolb, Councilmember Bourke, Councilmember Herbst, Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, and Councilmember Swanson 1 WS 13-43 BLAINE INDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES Kevin Johnston, President of the Blaine Little League, stated the Council requested information on indoor recreation facilities. He met with the community based youth groups (no swimming or hockey groups). The group brainstormed resulting in 75 ideas. The group calls themselves the Blaine Area Youth Sports Group (BAYSG). The BAYSG collected data from the City’s reports and info from other cities. The BAYSG secured the services of Tegra Group a project advisory group that did Target Field. Mr. Johnston distributed the Blaine Area Youth Sports Group spreadsheet showing Blaine Indoor Recreation Facilities - Preliminary Task/Schedule Illustration. Councilmember Clark arrived at 6:39 p.m. Mayor Ryan stated in the past the residents did not support a referendum for an indoor sports facility. He noted that surrounding cities did support an City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 18, 2013 indoor sports facility in Blaine. Mr. Johnston commented that youth sports continue to grow. Councilmember Swanson commented that over 50% of the residents do not have children. Councilmember Kolb stated that in 1998 the referendum failed due to most community centers operate in the red. City Manager Arneson asked if the Council is interested in the BAYSG continue researching an indoor sports facility. Councilmember Kolb stated she is in favor of talking about an indoor sports facility. Councilmember Hovland stated he is in favor of talking about an indoor sports facility. He noted he does not want the community center be tied up completely with organized sports. Mr. Johnston replied other Cities have established open court hours. Councilmember Bourke stated that core needs to be identified and who will run the facility/operation. Mr. Johnston replied it would be run by the citizens with City management. Councilmember Swanson stated he likes the concept of having more than one building. He asked if staff time would be needed for the 2014 deadline. City Manager Arneson replied there would be staff time, a study would need to be conducted, and Council time and involvement. Councilmember Clark stated staff needs to be involved, but cannot drive the plan. He suggested having a Councilmember participate in the BAYSG. He noted that the referendum failed because residents did not want to pay memberships. Mayor Ryan commented on how the ice rink demands in the past had driven the building of rinks in the area. H stated he does not want the BAYSG to get ahead of themselves before the City hears from the residents. Councilmember Swanson stated this project has to be a citizen project. Mr. Johnston commented that there is a plan for Aquatore Park that has not been completed. City Manager Arneson summarized the Council’s consensus is for the BAYSG to move forward with planning. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 18, 2013 Discussed 2 WS 13-44 TRAFFIC STUDY FOR CLUB WEST PARKWAY AT 113TH AVENUE Sponsors: Therres Attachments: Roundabout Layout.pdf CLUB WEST PARKWAY TRAFFIC STUDY.pdf Stefan Higgins stated the Club West Master Association contacted the City about traffic concerns with Club West Parkway and the roundabout. He noted that since 2009 there have been twelve accidents along the corridor. He stated the City’s traffic study showed that more than half of the vehicles are traveling at or below the speed limit of 35 mph and 85 percent of the vehicles are traveling at or under 38 mph. He noted that Club West Parkway is part of the frontage road system along Highway 65 and is classified as a collector street, which carries approximately 11,200 vehicles per day on the segment south of the roundabout and 4,500 vehicles per day north of the roundabout. He stated that vehicles are slowing down for the roundabout and are not exceeding the speed limit; although, drivers maybe cutting the inside corner of the roundabout and drive on the concrete apron to allow for faster speeds. He noted the amount of accidents and slower speeds are not out of the ordinary for a roadway of this type and volume of traffic. He stated that Club West reported eight instances of damage to the property surrounding the roundabout. Councilmember Kolb clarified that the Club West damage report information is from their own accounting. Councilmember Herbst stated the neighborhood concerns are with the speed of the roundabout. He suggested posting the speed at 20 mph. Mr. Higgins replied the state’s minimum speed is 30 mph. Councilmember Bourke asked if the accidents were neighborhood residents. Chief Olson stated he could get that information. Councilmember Hovland commented the roundabout does not have stripping. Councilmember Swanson asked about the signage prior to the roundabout. Mr. Higgins stated the standard roundabout signage is posted prior to the roundabout. Mr. Higgins proposed stripping the roundabout and/or installing an insurmountable curb (cost of $100,000). City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 18, 2013 Councilmember Kolb requested that Club West record dates when incidents occur. Council consensus is to stripe the roundabout and trim back the trees for better sign visibility. Discussed 3 WS 13-45 TRAFFIC STUDY FOR ASPEN LAKE DRIVE AT 116TH AVENUE Sponsors: Therres Attachments: TRAFFIC COUNTS AREA MAP.pdf TRAFFIC COUNTS ASPEN AT 116 2008.pdf TRAFFIC COUNTS ASPEN AT 116 2013.pdf TRAFFIC COUNTS VICINITY.pdf Dan Schluender stated in September 2007 and June 2008 the City was petitioned to conduct traffic studies to evaluate speeding and traffic volumes on 116th Avenue between Radisson Road and Yancy Court. He stated both traffic studies determined the volume and speed to be reasonable. He noted in an education/enforcement campaign and as a conclusion to the traffic studies, the Police Department placed a traffic patrol detail on 116th Avenue resulting in no citations issued. He stated in the spring of 2011, the City requested Anoka County review the intersection of 116th Avenue and Radisson Road (CSAH 52) for signage, striping, sight distance, and traffic counts. He noted the County determined that all aspects of the intersection were within acceptable tolerance. He stated in May 2013 the City received a petition from the residents on Aspen Lake Drive and 116th Avenue concerning the volume of traffic utilizing these streets to access Radisson Road. He commented that future conditions will include the extension of Lakes Parkway to Lexington Avenue and traffic control on Radisson Road. Mr. Schluender gave an overview of six options to reroute traffic: Option 1: Median closure on Radisson road at 116th Avenue. Option 2: Median closure on South Lakes Blvd. at Aspen Lake Drive. Option 3: Diagonal divider. Option 4: Closure of 116th Avenue at Aspen Lake Drive. Option 5: Median barrier on Aspen Lake Drive at 116th Avenue. Option 6: Closure of 116th Avenue at Radisson Road. Mr. Schluender suggested continuing to monitor traffic, continue to monitor 116th Avenue/Radisson Road intersection, and deter construction traffic on 116th Avenue/Aspen Lake Drive. City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 18, 2013 Councilmember Swanson stated that Able Street cannot handle more traffic. Councilmember Hovland stated he believes the issue is traffic speed and not traffic volume. He suggested more research is needed to understand the real issue. Councilmember Herbst stated the traffic from The Lakes will partially be resolved when the access to Lexington is created. Mr. Schluender stated he foresees the County eliminating the left-hand turn at Aspen Lake Drive. Councilmember Bourke suggested putting in a stop sign at Aspen Lake Drive and 116th Avenue. Mr. Schluender replied a study would need to be conducted and warrants would have to be met. He also noted that a lot of construction traffic uses road. Councilmember Clark suggested posting signage stating no construction trucks. He asked when the build-out is complete can the road handle the additional traffic. Mr. Schluender stated access on Radisson Road will fail. Councilmember Herbst asked if the extension to Lexington will be MSA. Mr. Schluender replied yes, but the road needs sewer and it will take a lot of MSA dollars. Council discussed options of meeting with Anoka County to discuss modifying the median, post no construction trucks, check for warrants for 4-way stop at Aspen, and install speed humps if the residents petition the City. Discussed 4 WS 13-46 2014 BUDGET UPDATE - DEPARTMENT REQUESTS Sponsors: Huss Finance Director Huss stated the Council reviewed the 2014 General Fund Budget and budget schedule at the Workshop on June 13, 2013. He stated staff has now compiled departmental budget requests and cautioned the City Council that the budget requests have not been fully vetted by department heads nor reviewed by Finance staff or the City Manager. He stated staff will continue to develop and define division-level responsibilities, identify programs and activities to carry out responsibilities and the resources required to achieve program goals, and estimate cost of resources. He gave an overview of proposed expenditures for the 2014 General Fund Budget Summary of Adjustments and the budget schedule. City of Blaine Page 5 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 18, 2013 Councilmember Clark left at 8:21 p.m. and returned at 8:25 p.m. Finance Director Huss pointed out specific items that are responsible for the revenue and expenditure differences and stated that the items presented should not be considered staff recommendations, but are presented to show Council the current status of the budget. Councilmember Swanson asked if the proposed numbers are worst case scenario. Finance Director Huss replied he does not expect the numbers to go up. Discussed OTHER BUSINESS Council consensus to schedule a summer retreat for August 9-10, 2013. Council discussed a storm water issue in Councilmember Hovland’s district. Council discussed the upcoming 3M golf tournament. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 8:50 p.m. City of Blaine Page 6